Abstract
Antibodies specific for the products of the human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) pX frame-shift mutants were studied by ELISA. The serum IgG antibodies to the synthetic peptide corresponding to one nucleotide insertion at position 7784 were significantly more common in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) patients than in HTLV-I carriers who had neither HAM/TSP nor adult T cell leukemia (39% vs. 5%). The seropositivities to the other synthetic peptides, which corresponded to the one nucleotide deletion at position 7475 and the internal deletion of nt 7754-7819 and nt 7853-7936, were rare. A genetic study confirmed the presence of the responsible mutation of the pX gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and central nervous system tissue from HTLV-I-infected subjects with and without HAM/TSP. These results suggest that HTLV-I pX frame-shift mutants are expressed in vivo in HTLV-I carriers; they also induce antibodies, especially in those with HAM/TSP.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1115-1122 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 173 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1996 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Immunology and Allergy
- Infectious Diseases